# Dental assistant fired for being luscious
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-assistant-fired-for-being-luscious/644943
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [December 23, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-assistant-fired-for-being-luscious/644943 "2012-12-23T18:01:27Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-assistant-fired-for-being-luscious/644943/1 "2012-12-23T18:01:27Z")
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A dentist acted legally when he fired an assistant that he found attractive simply because he and his wife viewed the woman as a threat to their marriage, the all-male Iowa Supreme Court ruled Friday.
[Bosses can fire ‘irresistible’ workers](http://bigstory.ap.org/article/iowa-court-bosses-can-fire-irresistible-workers)
Sounds legit.
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### Author:  [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-assistant-fired-for-being-luscious/644943/2 "2012-12-23T18:49:35Z")
Further proof that marriage is **EVIL!!!** :mad:
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2012, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-assistant-fired-for-being-luscious/644943/3 "2012-12-23T19:42:28Z")
The woman’s appearance wasn’t really the biggest issue.
The Dentist had worked with her for 10 years. The close working relationship had resulted in his interest. He couldn’t switch jobs himself because it was his own practice. It was stupid to openly terminate someone because you’re attracted to them. He should have simply said he couldn’t afford to keep her employed.
This isn’t all that unusual. A lot of men and women switch departments or even quit jobs to get out of this situation. You can’t just switch off sexual attraction. It can be a threat to your marriage. Especially if your work requires that you work closely together. Emotional attraction is even harder to avoid if you work with somebody day after day.
> [@](#):
>
> Knight and Nelson — both married with children — started exchanging text messages, mostly about personal matters, such as their families. Knight’s wife, who also worked in the dental office, found out about the messages and demanded Nelson be fired. The Knights consulted with their pastor, who agreed that terminating Nelson was appropriate.
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-assistant-fired-for-being-luscious/644943/4 "2012-12-23T20:26:44Z")
That comment about the lady’s infrequent sex life is revealing. How would he know that unless they had previously been discussing issues in her marriage? I bet he was sharing issues in his marriage too.
They had clearly wandered into a very close emotional relationship. Texting outside work is another danger sign. Sometimes male and female friendships can get complicated. It’s so easy to drift into something more.
> [@](#):
>
> Nelson, 32, worked for Knight for 10 years, and he considered her a stellar worker. But in the final months of her employment, he complained that her tight clothing was distracting, once telling her that if his pants were bulging that was a sign her clothes were too revealing, according to the opinion.
>
> He also once allegedly remarked about her infrequent sex life by saying, “that’s like having a Lamborghini in the garage and never driving it.”
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2012, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-assistant-fired-for-being-luscious/644943/5 "2012-12-23T21:45:49Z")
I’m not quite getting the outrage over this. The circumstances are unfortunate but in a certain context he did the most responsible thing possible.
If I was married with kids and was impossibly mentally and physically attracted to my assistant terminating them to save my marriage would be the wisest course of action. People do this all the time. His mistake was that he was overt about it.
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### Author:  [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2012, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-assistant-fired-for-being-luscious/644943/6 "2012-12-23T22:10:36Z")
And he thinks this is going to solve his problems by firing the good looking assistant ? I’m pretty sure the woman isn’t the problem. I didn’t think you could fire someone because they’re too good looking.
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### Author:  [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2012, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-assistant-fired-for-being-luscious/644943/7 "2012-12-23T22:59:36Z")
\*\*Ibanez \*\*- Non-union employees in At-Will states can be fired for any reason that isn’t protected by law.
StG
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### Author:  [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2012, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-assistant-fired-for-being-luscious/644943/8 "2012-12-23T23:00:22Z")
And no pics of the luscious assistant? That’s not what I pay my internet for.
Still, I googled. I was disappointed.
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-assistant-fired-for-being-luscious/644943/9 "2012-12-24T00:10:51Z")
Yeah, this story was way over sensationalized. This lady had worked with the dentist 10 years. Wore scrubs and was a typical looking soccer mom. Thats why I said earlier this was more like an emotional attraction. You gotta keep your distance from people that you are emotionally drawn too.
[Article with pictures.](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2252135/Melissa-Nelson-Judges-married-dentist-fired-aide-said-irresistibly-attractive.html)
Can’t imagine why this guy didn’t just didn’t terminate her without bringing up the sex distraction excuse. That’s just tacky and dumb. Give her a couple weeks severance pay and a really good letter of recommendation.
If she’s a dental hygienist then that’s a skilled job. She shouldn’t have any problems getting hired by another dentist.
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### Author:  [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2012, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-assistant-fired-for-being-luscious/644943/10 "2012-12-24T00:20:35Z")
I’ve got nothing sensible to add to this thread, but I think I’d enjoy a newspaper headline “Human Cannonball Fired”.
I’ll get me coat…
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### Author:  [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2012, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-assistant-fired-for-being-luscious/644943/11 "2012-12-24T02:52:26Z")
I wonder how that would look on a resume, I got fired because I’m too hot.
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### Author:  [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2012, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-assistant-fired-for-being-luscious/644943/12 "2012-12-24T02:54:34Z")
Well, if your last job was modelling for Walmart…
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### Author:  [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2012, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-assistant-fired-for-being-luscious/644943/13 "2012-12-24T03:18:42Z")
> [@sahirrnee](#):
>
> I wonder how that would look on a resume, I got fired because I’m too hot.
The real career-killer is going to be “filed lawsuit against previous employer and pursued it all the way up to the supreme court.” Employers tend to shy away from potential employees who have a record of running up huge legal bills for them. The smart ones won’t come out and say they aren’t hiring her because of the law suit, but will find another excuse.
If you are going to litigate with your employer, either make sure you win big or that you have a Career Plan B.
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### Author:  [@Cats\_pajamas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cats_pajamas)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2012, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-assistant-fired-for-being-luscious/644943/14 "2012-12-24T04:12:58Z")
> [@Ibanez](#):
>
> And he thinks this is going to solve his problems by firing the good looking assistant ? I’m pretty sure the woman isn’t the problem…
Exactly.
And, anyone who defends the actions of the dentist is part of a larger problem in society commonly known as stupid.
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### Author:  [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2012, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-assistant-fired-for-being-luscious/644943/15 "2012-12-24T04:18:15Z")
> [@sahirrnee](#):
>
> I wonder how that would look on a resume, I got fired because I’m too hot.
At best, conceited; at worst, deluded. Depending on whether you actually are hot.
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2012, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-assistant-fired-for-being-luscious/644943/16 "2012-12-24T04:26:06Z")
> [@Cats\_pajamas](#):
>
> Exactly.
>
> And, anyone who defends the actions of the dentist is part of a larger problem in society commonly known as stupid.
OK I’ll bite.
Given the context of the problem where he is self admittedly emotionally and physically attracted to the assistant, and is given an ultimatum by his wife to terminate the assistant or his marriage will suffer immediate harm, what is the “non-stupid” answer to this problem?
Be specific as to how he should have non-stupidly solved that problem with his wife and assistant at that juncture where the ultimatum was given.
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### Author:  [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2012, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-assistant-fired-for-being-luscious/644943/17 "2012-12-24T04:27:04Z")
> [@Cats\_pajamas](#):
>
> Exactly.
>
> And, anyone who defends the actions of the dentist is part of a larger problem in society commonly known as stupid.
You want the guy working in your mouth with a drill to be distracted by his conflicted feelings about his assistant? Not me.
Please tell us how you would resolve the situation, and no magic hand waving about willing yourself to only have politically correct feelings while you’re on the clock.
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### Author:  [@Cats\_pajamas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cats_pajamas)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2012, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-assistant-fired-for-being-luscious/644943/18 "2012-12-24T06:23:38Z")
Guys, if you cannot imagine a more just way for the dentist to resolve his problem, how did you find your way to the last Pro Choice demonstration you attended?
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2012, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-assistant-fired-for-being-luscious/644943/19 "2012-12-24T06:38:31Z")
> [@Cats\_pajamas](#):
>
> Guys, if you cannot imagine a more just way for the dentist to resolve his problem, how did you find your way to the last Pro Choice demonstration you attended?
Wow… that’s not even arm waving. You’re a lazy little kitty.
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### Author:  [@Cats\_pajamas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cats_pajamas)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2012, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dental-assistant-fired-for-being-luscious/644943/20 "2012-12-24T06:42:11Z")
> [@astro](#):
>
> Wow… that’s not even arm waving. You’re a lazy little kitty.
Not exactly. I am 6’, weight 200 Lbs., and have a penis, but I do try to never think with it, unlike the Iowa Supreme Court.
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